How does cytomegalovirus factor into diseases of aging and vaccine responses, and by what mechanisms?

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an important pathogen for both clinical and population settings. There is a growing body of research implicating CMV in multiple health outcomes across the life course. At the same time, there is mounting evidence that individuals living in poverty are more likely to be exposed to CMV and more likely to experience many of the chronic conditions for which CMV has been implicated. Further research on the causal role of CMV for health and well-being is needed. However, the strong evidence implicating CMV in type 2 diabetes, autoimmunity, cancer, cardiovascular disease, vaccination, and age-related alterations in immune function warrants clinical and public health action. This imperative is even higher among individuals living in socioeconomically disadvantaged settings and those exposed to high levels of chronic psychosocial stress

Did national folic acid fortification reduce socioeconomic and racial disparities in folate status in the US?

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/61197/1/Dowd, J. Aiello, A. Did national folic acid fortificationhtm.htmhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/61197/4/Dowd_Aiello_Didnationalfolicacid.pd

Causal inference: the case of hygiene and health

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/55403/1/Causal inference The case of hygiene and health.pd

Systematic risk assessment methods for the infection control professional

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/55416/1/Larson E, Systematic risk assessment methods.pd

What is the evidence for a causal link between hygiene and infections?

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/55441/1/Aiello A, What is the evidence for a causal link between hygien and infections, 2002.pd

Public health measures to slow community spread of COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was initially identified in an outbreak of viral pneumonia in Wuhan, People’s Republic of China, in December 2019, and it has now been recognized in 77 countries with over 90 000 laboratory-confirmed cases and over 3000 deaths as of March 3, 2020 [1]. The epidemiology of COVID-19 has recently become clearer as incident cases continue to rise and researchers refine estimates of the severity, transmissibility, and populations affected. Based on available data, COVID-19 is efficiently transmitted in the community, and the proportion of infections leading to severe illness is particularly high among adults ≥50 years of age and among individuals with comorbid health conditions. Although rare, severe cases have also been reported among younger individuals. Thus far, the estimated basic reproductive number of COVID-19 is higher than that of influenza [2], as is the case fatality risk for adults and older individuals

Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with an increased rate of diabetes.

ObjectiveChronic infections could be contributing to the socioeconomic gradient in chronic diseases. Although chronic infections have been associated with increased levels of inflammatory cytokines and cardiovascular disease, there is limited evidence on how infections affect risk of diabetes.Research design and methodsWe examined the association between serological evidence of chronic viral and bacterial infections and incident diabetes in a prospective cohort of Latino elderly. We analyzed data on 782 individuals aged >60 years and diabetes-free in 1998-1999, whose blood was tested for antibodies to herpes simplex virus 1, varicella virus, cytomegalovirus, Helicobacter pylori, and Toxoplasma gondii and who were followed until June 2008. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate the relative incidence rate of diabetes by serostatus, with adjustment for age, sex, education, cardiovascular disease, smoking, and cholesterol levels.ResultsIndividuals seropositive for herpes simplex virus 1, varicella virus, cytomegalovirus, and T. gondii did not show an increased rate of diabetes, whereas those who were seropositive for H. pylori at enrollment were 2.7 times more likely at any given time to develop diabetes than seronegative individuals (hazard ratio 2.69 [95% CI 1.10-6.60]). Controlling for insulin resistance, C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 did not attenuate the effect of H. pylori infection.ConclusionsWe demonstrated for the first time that H. pylori infection leads to an increased rate of incident diabetes in a prospective cohort study. Our findings implicate a potential role for antibiotic and gastrointestinal treatment in preventing diabetes

The association between handwashing practices and illness symptoms among college students living in a university dormitory

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/61178/1/Thumma J, Aiello AE, Foxman B, The association between handwashing practices and illness symptoms among college students living in a university dormitory_2008.pd